Landscaping in Delmont, Maine hasn’t been DEIRDRE TILLING’s only passion. Up until two months ago, it had included a live-in lover. Jilted for the third time in as many years, Deirdre’s decided to give up on love. But a one night stand with a dark haired stranger she met at her new employer’s party may very well thrust her into a world filled with danger and dark secrets.

An agent hell bent on proving himself…

DEA agent, AYDEN SCOTT, has a lot to prove after a disastrous drug bust in Miami three years earlier that left a member of his team dead. Working undercover as lead investigator, he’s determined to bring down an elusive drug cartel smuggling heroin into central Maine. He’ll use any means necessary to complete his objective, including sleeping with the suspected drug Lord’s landscaper, Deirdre. He just hadn’t expected the feisty redhead to be so much more than long legs and dangerous curves.

One night neither of them can forget…

Deirdre and Ayden both thought one sexually explosive romp in the sack would be the end of their relationship. But Deirdre’s arrest for heroin possession and her father’s near-fatal heart attack prompts Ayden to confess his true identity. When Deirdre is kidnapped by the drug cartel and used as a pawn, Ayden is forced to choose between his heart and his mission. The question is…who will survive his decision?

Excerpt:

The sun glistening off the windshield of the Jag had finally burned off the early morning fog.

“Turn here. The farmhouse is only a couple more miles.” Deirdre’s voice was weak.

“Do you need me to call anyone? Rachel? Mark?” Ayden asked.

“No, I talked with Rach when she was at the hospital. She’s going to call Shawn and let him know about my dad. There are a couple of small jobs I put off, but Rachel will go there with Mark and crew.” A small laugh escaped. “Of course in the middle of all that, the witch forgot to mention she’d told my sister about the drug mess.”

Ayden reached over and squeezed her leg. “You’re pretty lucky to have such a supportive family.” She looked so small, so defenseless, huddled in the leather seat. He didn’t know how to make this better. Ayden had lost his family so long ago he didn’t know the kind of strength that came from sharing grief. He knew for certain, after her tearful confession to Julie and Meghan about the arrest, Deirdre had nothing to do with Jameson’s drug operation. She’d told him the truth.

He owed her the same. But how much worse could the timing be?

After Sunday, after they busted Jameson, he’d tell Deirdre everything, all the sordid details of his life. He just didn’t know if the reality would send her running in the opposite direction.

That would be his luck.

He’d started this relationship looking for a distraction, but Deirdre had quickly become so much more than a casual affair. He’d felt her defenses fall away last night with her clothes. She’d given all of herself to him and allowed him into her family. He looked over at the woman who’d tied his emotions in knots and worried about her reaction to his confession.

Her mother had pulled him aside while Deirdre was sitting with her father. Men hadn’t treated her daughter well, and Alice hoped Ayden’s intentions were honorable. He hoped like hell they were too. He hadn’t had time to sort that one out yet.

But if the night had proven anything to Ayden, it’s that he wanted what the Tillings had. Actually, he wanted Deirdre, the rest of the package was just icing.

The familiar burn of doubt heated his gut and he absently reached for the antacids in the glove box.

“You all right?” Deirdre asked.

“Too much vending machine coffee and not enough sleep.” He popped a couple of tablets. Yeah, not even close to the truth. The fact was, when the Jameson deal went down, there was no way he was going to be able to walk away from the sexy redhead who’d crawled into his bed and wrapped herself around his heart.

But he also knew, after the emotional turmoil of the past twelve hours, Deirdre sure as hell wasn’t ready to hear that confession.

Ayden pulled the Jag into the dooryard of the farmhouse. There weren’t any neighbors visible in either direction, cars either. It occurred to him Deirdre’s welfare had taken priority over his undercover work. Not a smart move on his part. Not when Jameson seemed to be breathing down his neck. He hadn’t really been on the top of his game over the last few hours.

There was nothing he could do about it now.

Deirdre reached for the door handle, too tired to open it, her hand fell back to her lap. “I need a shower,” she mumbled.

“What you need, Deirdre, is some food and rest. You barely ate anything at the diner. Meghan promised to call if there was any change. You don’t need to be back at the hospital until this afternoon. You guys have a pretty good system going there. Rotating shifts with your mom.” Lifting her hand, Ayden rubbed it against his lips. “I don’t have any pressing business meetings today. Everything I need to do can be done by phone. Let me take care of you.”

“I’d like that.”

Saph's Review:

I'm going to point out that this is Book 2 in the Tilling Passions series and I have not read Book 1. That being said, I can't find anything in the book that I didn't understand or needed clarification on. I will, at some point, try to read Book 1 and Book 3.

This was an awesome 105 page story. The shorter length of the book didn't detract from the novel in any way. It didn't seem rushed in any area nor did it leave out any crucial information that some shorter stories tend to do.

Deirdre Tilling is a professional landscaper in Maine that is mending a broken heart after her girlfriend, Bri, ends their relationship. Ayden Scott is an undercover DEA agent using the name Austin, who is tracking a drug lord and just moved to Maine to bring the guy down. Deirdre and Ayden meet at a party thrown by Shawn Jameson and their one-night-stand doesn't stay so one-nightish. When Deirdre is busted for heroin possession on her way home from working on Mr. Jameson's property all hell breaks loose. Nothing is what is seems and no one is who they say they are. As Deirdre is played like a pawn in a chess game, Ayden/Austin must face a huge decision--take down a drug lord or save the woman he loves.

I loved the strength of both Deirdre and Ayden/Austin. They both have very different emotional issues that they are dealing with throughout the book and are able to lean on each other for support. The no-strings-attached hook up really didn't work out for them. Both characters bonded together almost immediately and I felt just how real their feelings were for each other even though they hadn't know each other very long. Deceive Her With Desire flowed so well and the story line kept me on my toes. The suspense and romance of the novel didn't overtake each other; there was a nice balance of both. The romantic parts were hot and realistic and the suspense kept me engaged.

One Of Saph's Favorite Passages:

"They barely knew each other, yet the emotional storms of the last twenty-four hours had forged a bond that left them clinging to each other like life rafts."

What a great review. Nina is a new author for me and adding her to my must read list. I love to read and always looking for new authors. Thanks for the recommendations. Love the Kiss and Tell tour. Been trying to follow along and finding some new authors.christinebails@yahoo.com

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